MOSCOW: The eight-year suspension and FIFA and UEFA presidents Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini will not affect preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Friday (Saturday in Manila). On Monday, the previously suspended FIFA and UEFA presidents, Sepp Blatter and Platini respectively, were both banned for eight years by FIFA’s Ethics Committee from all international football activities over allegedly illegal financial transfer from FIFA to Platini. The Ethics Committee also subjected both of the football executives to financial fines, obliging Blatter to pay 50,000 Swiss francs (over USD 50,300) and Platini – 80,000 Swiss francs (over USD 80,500). PNA